AI-BOOST AI Challenge Competition: Funding Opportunity for Generative AI Innovators

The AI-BOOST AI Challenge Competition is an EU-funded initiative designed to accelerate the development of breakthrough Generative AI technologies addressing real industrial challenges. The programme connects researchers, startups, SMEs, universities and innovation teams with leading European industrial partners to develop market-ready AI solutions.

The competition adopts a two-phase approach. Successful applicants first compete in the Spark Phase, where selected teams receive financial support to develop their concepts. They then progress to the Advance Phase, involving a five-month development programme culminating in a live demonstration event in Brussels, where winners receive significant cash prizes.

Key Dates and Funding

Opens:

Challenge 1 & 2: 19 June 2026 | Challenge 3 & 4: 3 July 2026

Closes:

Challenge 1 & 2: 25 August 2026 | Challenge 3 & 4: 8 September 2026

Funding:

• Spark Phase: €28,500 awarded to five successful applicants per challenge.
• Advance Phase: One winner per challenge receives €100,000.
• Special Awards: Innovation Excellence Award (€12,500) and Responsible AI Award (€12,500).
  ‍

Participants also benefit from:

• Technical mentoring and expert feedback
• Access to challenge-specific datasets and resources
• Optional access to CINECA's Leonardo supercomputer and HPC training
• Collaboration opportunities with leading industrial partners

Open Challenges

The competition includes four Generative AI challenges:

• Challenge 1
  GenAI-based Natural Language Mission Generator for Autonomous Agricultural Robots.
• Challenge 2
  Agentic AI for Automated CAD Generation and Industrial Simulation.
• Challenge 3
  Generative AI for Enhancement of Clinical Imaging Datasets.
• Challenge 4
  Generative AI for Automatic Test Case Generation for Autonomous Vehicle Safety.

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be established in one of the following eligible countries or territories:

• EU Member States (MS): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
• EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs): Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Greenland, New Caledonia, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna Islands.
• Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Ukraine and Türkiye.

‍